Over a quarter of five-year-olds in the UK suffer from tooth decay – but fewer than ten percent of those children have been treated. It is important for your children to get into good habits early when it comes to their oral health. Dental problems can seriously affect them for the rest of their life, leading to pain, discomfort, and years of expensive medical procedures. With dental care free on the NHS until the age of 18, there really is no reason for a child’s teeth to be neglected. Like so many aspects of a child’s development, the early stages are vital. It is better to prevent tooth decay than to cure it, and the sooner you set things in place, the quicker everything will become part of their daily routine. So, get your child brushing! They’ll definitely thank you later when they have all their teeth in later life.

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In Children
Like so many aspects of a child’s development, the early
stages are the most important. Oral health is no
exception. Healthy baby teeth provide a space for adult teeth to
develop and any early loss can lead to serious discomfort
for the child and overcrowding later in life that could require
orthordontic treatments.
Tooth decay is caused by the build-up of plaque bacteria
which feed off sugar, producing an acid that slowly destroys
teeth, creating holes called cavities.

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is the best cure!
3-4 teeth
are affected in
children with
tooth decay
27%
of five year-olds
in the UK have
tooth d ecay

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food and drinks are the biggest culprits for
causing tooth decay.
Plan meals and snacks carefully!
Fewer than
10% of children
with tooth decay
have been
treated

4. Between snacks, children should only be given milk
or water. Avoid giving them concentrated fruit
juices.
Nutritious and savoury snacks should be
encouraged, but make sure that your child refrains
from constant grazing, even on healthy foods.
Toddlers should be offered six to eight drinks a
day, with a cup or glass introduced after six months.
Bottle feeding should be discouraged after a year.
Limit sweet foods to four times daily, including
mealtimes. Never give your child sugary foods in the
evening, and especially not right before bed.

5. Check food labels carefully for
any hidden or added sugars:
hon.ey, sucrose, glucose, maltose,
dextrose, fructose, hydrolysed starch,
corn or maize syrup, molasses,
raw/brown sugar, treacle
N ever d ip
your baby’s
dummy any-thing
in sweet!

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regularly is one of the most effective ways
of reducing plaque and preventing
decay.
3%
of children
have had a tooth
extracted by the
age of five!

7. Take your child for a professional clean two to
three times a year after the age of three; NHS
dental care is free until age 18. Supervise your
child’s brushing up to age seven.
Encourage your children to spit, not rinse after
brushing. For under-threes, use a smear of 1000ppm
fluoride toothpaste. Older children can use a
pea-sized amount of 1350-1500ppm.
Use a small, child-sized toothbrush with soft
bristles. Make sure that you replace it every three
months.
Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first
tooth erupts. Brush twice a day: once before
bedtime and once more earlier in the day.

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The bacteria that cause tooth decay can also be passed on
to a child by their parents, so make sure that you are
treated for any gum disease or tooth decay quickly to
protect your child..

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Brought to you by Portman Healthcare
www.portmanhealthcare.co.uk
Figures taken from www.nwph.net